We booked several months in advance via Parador web site, and only room available was handicapped. Alas I loved it. It was on main floor,had grab bars in the tub and raised toiled. The room had its own foyer, and was very large with big marble washroom. It was on a garden level, facing a long rectangular pond surrounded by well tended garden. It was so quiet day and night! Breakfast had large selection, the only disappointment was a weak coffee. However when I pointed it out , they explained it is served to satisfy american tastes for diluted coffee (otherwise they have to bring water to dilute it), and they immediately assuaged me with a wonderful expresso! Staff was very knowledgeable. It arranged for a guided tour of Alhambra, and adviced on many other challenges ( get rid of your car, there is excellent bus service from Granada to Alhambra, or you can walk it)

Having been to the wondrous Alhambra twice before, this time we stayed at its parador – a magical and special place.

All the parador’s services (reception, housekeeping etc) are professional and polite. Our room was excellent, larger than I thought would be the case in an ex-monastery and with a nice view of gardens, a pool and the Generalife. Everything was so so quite, we felt as though we were temporary custodians of a bit of history – and didn’t even feel the need to turn on the TV.

All the guidebooks etc describe the parador very well – so I’ll focus on some practicalities to try and help your stay there.

Evening dinner is unusual – and a must-do if you’re at the parador. Top-class restaurant and food. Some diners dress-up-in-a-very-big-way, whereas others are more casual. A great chance to eat good food and people-watch. Bizarrely, no reservations are allowed and the restaurant itself is not big – so at doors open (20.30) it pays to be on-the-ball. If you delay entering the restaurant past about 20.45, you might be hungry for an hour or more.

Lunchtime dining on the outside terrace is lovely – but best to eat before 1300 or, with all the day-visitors, you’ll struggle to get a table and the service is quicker then.

Tickets for the Alhambra are a much bigger problem than I’d thought – even though I had booked already via the internet. Book in advance – it’s a must – and well in advance to get a choice of timeslot – use internet or phone.

Also if you have, for instance, an afternoon (14.00 onwards) timeslot for the Nasrid Palaces, then you can only go in the Generalife, Partal Gardens or Alcazaba in the afternoon as well, not in the morning. To have sufficient time to breathe-the-air and absorb the whole visit, book in advance for a full ticket for the morning and also book a second gardens-only ticket (not expensive) for the afternoon – or vice versa – it gives you flexibility.

Note – it’s a 10 mins (very pleasant though) walk from the parador to the ticket office to collect your pre-booked tickets. And – you cannot collect tickets the day before - only on the day itself – the left hand queue is the one for collections. Following these tips will ease your visit to one of the wonders of the world – the Alhambra, and the Nasrid Palaces in particular.

The red Alhambrabus is great – guide books don’t emphasise it enough. It’s very frequent, cheap and goes on a round trip to where tourists will want to go. Use it to get to-and-fro between Alhambra area (bus stop a short walk from the parador) and centre of Granada. It does a round trip through the Albaicin on the hill opposite the Alhambra – so you can get the bus up there and sightsee / stroll back down the hill via the narrow streets.

Go on – stay at this very special hotel – you can afford it once, at least.

We spent two superb nights here and felt like royalty. The staff bent over backwards to be pleasant and helpful. Our four person room included a large foyer, two large rooms and double sinked bathroom. We received a complimentary set of prints of the Alahmbra and the pleasant nightly chocolates, as well as candies sitting by our beds on our arrival - the little things really add up and make you feel welcome. Our two porches opened over the private well-maintained garden as well a lovely view. We enjoyed sitting on the upper balcony of the inner courtyard right outside our door. The lighting at night is incredible, our 16 year old son wandered about the Parador and it's grounds at night in complete security. We played cards in the pleasant salon surrounded by antique artifacts and a quiet environment. Our stay at this parador made our visit to the Alhambra the highlight of our 3 weeks of travel in Spain.

Meals in the dining room were excellent and served quickly, something we had not experienced anywhere else. Attendants were pleasant and efficient. The outside terrace cafe was covered with blooming wisteria and the view is splendid, drinks and snacks were served quickly.

The hotel is immaculate, the atmosphere magical. When you stay at this Parador you are more than a guest, you are the temporary occupant/owner and the staff enhances this illusion. You get what you pay for is certainly true at this wonderful establishment.

What can be said. You will be staying at the Alhambra. This is a wonderful place steeped in history. The catholic monarchs Isabel and Ferdinand were even buried here before being moved to the Cathedral in Granada.

The parador rooms were very nice but not too special. Be sure to follow advice in guidebooks and, if it's important to you, get a room with views of the Generalife. The bathrooms are nicely done. Location is nice and quiet at night as it is up at the Ahambra away from the busy city below. Help from the front desk was very good and friendly. The grounds are wonderful with lots of patios and beautiful gardens.

We did not eat at the parador because we were looking for more "down to earth" experiences in the Albaizin and city centre. Access to the city below is easily achieved by walking out the Carlos V gate of the Alhambra and to the tourist bus stop (about 150m from the parador gate). Buses frequently go by and head for the Plaza Nueva and Albaizin. Cost is Euro 0.95 per trip and you can buy a 9-trip pass at a significant discount. Bus service stops at 2300h but taxis can get you back home.

I would recommend this parador. Book WELL AHEAD of time and request a room with a good view!